Ore-separatory apparatus.



J. M. GALLOW & D. J. KELLY.

ORE SEPARATORY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13,1914.

i,i24,855, Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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J. M. CALLOW & D. J. KELLY.

ORB SEPARATORY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1914.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOHN M. GAILOW AND DAVID J. KELLY, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNORS TORECOVERY COMPANY, ,OF AUGUSTA, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

ORE-SEPARATORY APPARATUS.

/ Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 12, 1915.

Application filed June 13,4914. Serial N 0. 844,906.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN M. (know, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and DAVID J. KELLY, a citizen of the United States, bothresiding at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State ofUtah, have invented certain new and useful" Improvements in Ore-Separatory Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to, a flotation apparatus designed for theconcentration of metallic ores by separating the metallic particles fromthe barren or rocky constituents thereof and the invention consists ofthe parts and the constructions, arrangements and combinations of partswhich we will hereinafter fully describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and inwhich similar reference characters indicate like parts in the severalviews, Figure? l is a vertical sectional view with parts in elevation ofa flotation or separatory apparatus embodying the salient features ofour invention. Fig. :2 is a sectional view of a portion of the tankshowing a tailings discharge of modified form, with a valve mechanismfor controlling the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view onthe line X-X of Fig. i. Fig, l is a similar view showing arms ofmodified cross section. Fig. 5 is a still further modified form ofporous arm. Fig. 6 is a crcss sectional view of one of the arms showinga modified form of porous material. Fig. '5 shows a portion of an armprovided with rakes or teeth. Fig. 8 is a modified form cf tank showingsets of radial arms operable therein. Fig. 9 is a vertical sectionalview of a tank of modified construction to which our presentimprovements are applied. Fig. 10 illustrates another form of porousradial arm formed according to our present invention.

The apparatus shown in the present case is specifically related to theart commonly known as buoyant or flotation processes and which isdistinct from the usual gravity concentration processes in which theparticles are separated by their differences in weight or specificgravity, in that in the fio tation process a certain percentage of oil,or of two dissimilar oils, or an oil and an acid, or an oil and analkali, or some substance having the property of producing a suitablefroth with the ore is mixed with finely ground ore pulp and water andthe mlxture is then subjected to a violent agitatron with the resultthat large volumes of a1r are beaten into, impregnated with, orentrained by the pulp for the purpose of producing a froth, or sud,having the appearance of an aggregation or mass of fine soap bubbleswhich when collected and the froth discharged or broken down, by naturalsettlement, by suction or vacuum, or by the addition of cold water, orother means, displaces the mineral particles that have been caught andcarried by the bubbles.

In Fig. l, of the accompanying drawings, the tan A, may be of anysuitableconstruction, capacity and design. It is shown as of circularform. but this is unimportant;

at its upper portion it is provided, or connects with, a suitablelaunder, 10, into which the froth or foam formed in the tank, as we willhereinafter describe, is delivered, in the manner well known in thisart. The froth may, however, be removed bv other means without departingfrom the spirit of the present invention.

In Fig. 1 we show one form of feed device where the feed spout leadsinto a feed distributer, 11, of any appropriate character mounted on ahollow vertical shaft, 12, and having discharge spouts, 13, leading intothe interior of the tank.

The vertical shaft, 12, of Fig. l is con nected to an appropriatedriving mechanism, 14, and through a stufiing box on said shaft, extendsa pipe, 15, adapted to be supplied with air. as or vapor, under pressure. At the bottom. the hollow vertical shaft is provided with a hub orcoupling member, 16, to which are attached the innor ends of theradiating arms, 17, of which there may be any desired number and whicharms may have any desired form in cross section. The arms may be roundas in Fig. 3, or square as at 17 in Fig. 4, in cross section, or theymay be of segmental form as at 17 in plan, Fig. 10, but in any eventthey have hollow interiors which connect with the interior of the hollowvertical shaft, 12,

- and thus receive the pressure of the gaseous medium which is admittedto the shaft through the supply pipe, 15, before men tioned. The armsmay be formed of any appropriate material and are provided with suitableperforations; whatever the character of the material used for the arms,the

exterior surface-or surfacesof said arms-will be formed or covered withsome material such as porous tile, (Flg. 5, canvas, or layers of fibrousor other material,-

(Fig. 6), of any suitable character suflie cientlyporous to permit thepassage therethrough of the gaseous material admitted under pressureinto the interior of the arms, but which will prevent the liquid or pulpfrom. passingthrough said material to the.

interior of the arms, said gaseous fluid being delivered throu h thepores of said material in the orm of innumerable line streamsdistributed substantially throughout the bottom of the pulp or solutionin the tank and serving to agitate a'nd aerate the contents of saidtank.

. To assist the distribution of the gaseous arms rotatingsubstantially'close to the bottom of the tank so as to keep in motionthe heavier particles which are liable to settle upon the bottom; or thebottom may be inclined and a positive means employed for keeping inmotion the settling sands or coarser constituents of the pulp, as Wewill presently describe' Inv either event, we prefer that the centralportion of the tank may have a depression or chamber, A, into which theheavier particles are caused to gravitate or to be directed, saidchamber terminating in a tailings discharge, 18, con- *to a pivotedlever, 25, which in turn is controlled by a suitable valve, '19, which,through an appropriate lever mechanism, 20, is actuated automatically bya float, 21, submerged in the contents of the tank, said float. therebyserving as a means for maintaining the level of the liquid in the tankand the uniformity of the discharge of the froth or sud whichaccumulates on the top of the liquid, even though there should be avariable feedof pulp into the distributing ho per. v

n equivalent manner of discharging the tailings is disclosed in vFig. -2wherein the tank, B,'has a discharge 22, in the side near the bottom andthis. discharge is controlled by a valve, 23, whose stem, 24, isconnected nected to the float, 26. As the level of the liquid rises, thefloat is actuated to unseat or open th e valve and thus permit aportionof the tailings to be discharged; by this orous tank 0 means we preservethe level of the fluid the overflow of the froth or sud. I

' The mechanism employed for rotating the porous arms, 17, 17' or 17 maybe of any desired character .and the speed given the .arms may besuch'as to keep the sands or coarser particles from accumulating on thebottom of the tank and also to maintain the pulp particles uniformlysuspended throughout the pulp.

If it is desired the arms may be provided with rakes, teeth, orstirrers, 26', Fig. 7, of any suitable character adapted to operate overthe bottom and positively stir up and agitate the sands and heavierparticles wllllilgh tend to settle on the.bottom of the ta The tank ofFig. 1 may represent an individual unit inwhich one series of arms .ofany desired number may be used.' To

this end, it may represent a tank of circular form; but if desired, thetank may be of rectangular or other shape and two or more sets 0 arms,17, Fig. 8, and their acces- -contents of the tank and the uniformity ofsories may be used in the single tank without departing from the spiritof my invention.

In Fig. 9, we show the application of'the present improvements toanother type of apparatus. In this case, the. tank B has an inclinedbottom, 30, and over this bottom operate suitable rakes, 31, or othermeans for stirring the sands which tend to settle on the bottom anddirect themto the centrally placed tailings dischar e, 18". The

Fig. 9 has double wal s forming an annular space, 32, into which thepulp to be treated is first admitted, the inner wall, 33,

being shorter than the outer wall and ter minating above the bottom ofthe tank so as to form a space through which the pulp may flow into thechamber of the tank from below, the material being admitted into thespace between the wall through suitable feed pipes, 34, vrevolubly orotherwise mounted, leading from a supply hopper,a34=, into the aforesaidspace, and the tailings dischar e being under the automatic control of asuitable float, 35, and lever mechanismin much .the same manner asbefore described for Fig. 1.

In the type of apparatus shown in .Fig. 9, the foam or sud is removed bymeans of a vacuum induced through suitable nozzles, 36, attached toradial arms, 37, which in turn contact with a hollow pipe, 38, which mayserve. as the shaft for carrying the arms, rakes and other movableparts,'being also provided, in the instance shown, with a cone, 39,adapted to direct the foam into the range of action or beneath theaforesaid nozzles, saidcone being provided with wings or vanes, 40,which are designed to operate in the body of the pulp to induce arotation or circular movement thereof during the period that the gaseousfluid is being discharged through the porous arms, 41, into the pulpfrom below.

The hollow pipe or shaft, 38, is connected to a pipe, 42, the oppositeend of which leads into a closed tank, 43, in which a vacuum is createdthrough the medium of a famAal, or other means. The tank B of Fig. 9contains the radial arms, l1, which are formed of or provided with aporous material adapted to permit the passage of gaseous fluid, but notliquid or pulp, in the manner described more in detail in connectionwith the equivalent arms of Fig. 1, it being understood that thevertical hollow shaft, 38, of Fig. 9 receives a pipe, l5, through whicha gaseous fluid is supplied to the radial arms, 41, and that relativemotion between the tank and the arms and between the vacuum nozzles andthe tank may be provided in any well known manner, and one instance ofwhich is shown inthe use of the driving mechanism, 46, of Fig. '9.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In apparatus of the character described,the combination with a tank adapted to contain a mixture of powderedores and water and a frothable agent, of a hollow rotary member operablein the tank and adapted to receive a gaseous fluid under pressure, saidmember being sufliciently porous to permit the passage of the gaseousfluid therethrough but not the water and 2. In apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination with a tank adapted to contain amixture of powdered ores and water and a frothable agent, ofsubstantially horizontal radial arms operable in the tank and madehollow and adapted to receive a gaseous fluid under pressure, said armsbeing s'ufliciently porous to perrnit the passage of the gaseous fluidtherethrough but not the water and pulp.

' apparatus of the character described, the combination with a tankadaptad to contain a mixture of powdered ores and water and a frothableagent, of subrtantially horizontal radial arms operable n the tank andmade hollow and adapted receive a gaseous fluid under pressure, aid armsbeing sufiicien ly porous to pernit the assage of the gaseous fluidtherehrough ut not the water and pulp, and a serving as a carrier forthe arms and a onductor for the gaseous fluid thereto.

4. In apparatus of the character de-.

:ribed, the combination with a tank adapted to contain a mixture ofpowdered ores and water and a frothable agent, of substantiallyhorizontal radial arms of tubular form and provided with perforations,said arms operable in the tank and adapted to receive a gaseous fluidunder pressure and having an outer covering made sufficiently porous topermit the passage of the gaseous fluid but not the water and pulp. 5.In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a tankadapted to contain a mixture of powdered ores and water and a frothableagent, means including a hollow arm substantially horizontally disposedand operable in the tank and adapted to receive a gaseous fluid underpressure, said arm having an outer surface sufliciently porous to permitthe passage of the gaseous fluid but not the water and pulp, and meansoperable below the arm to prevent the coarser particles of materialsettling upon the bottom of the tank.

apparatus of the character described, the combination with a tankadapted to contain a mixture of powdered ores and water and a frothableagent, means including a hollow arm substantiall horizontally disposed,and operable in the tank and adapted to receive a gaseous fluid underpressure, said arm having an outer surface sufliciently porous to permitthe passage of the gaseous fluid but not the water and pulp,

and stirrers operable with the arms over the bottom of the tank adaptedto maintain the coarser particles of ore in motion to there by preventthe same settling on the bottom of the tank.

7 In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a tankadapted to contain a mixture of powdered ores and water and a frothableagent, of a hollow member mounted in the tank and adapted to receive agaseous fluid under pressure, and means for rotating the tank andmeniber one relatively. to the other, said memher being suflicientlyporous to permit the JOHN M. CALLOW. Witnesses:

H. F. J. KNOBLOCH, DAVID E. THOMAS.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID J. KELLY. Witnesses:

G. F. SUMMnRs, R. M. LOWE.

